Process of making decorative plates



Aug. F' 1938. J. G. BJORKMAN PROCESS OF MAKING DECORATIVE PLATES Filed Feb. 4, 1937 nam wwe ark/nan Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNlTED STATES PATENT orries Y PROCESS OF MAKING DECORATIVE PLATES JohnG. Bjorkman, Shreveport, La.

Application February 4, 1937, Serial No. 124,098

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved process of making decorative plates. I

One object of the invention is to. provide a process of this characterwhich may be utilized for producing ornamental plaques for decorative purposes.

' The invention seeks as another object to provide a process of making decorative plates which plates may be used for making copy for half-tone or line etching reproductions.

The invention has as a further object to pro vide, by a processof this nature, means for making plates for lithographing, photogravure, or rofor use with various color processes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a process for making decorative plates which will make use of but few well known and cheap materials. 4 i Other and incidental objects of the invention will make themselves readily apparent as the description proceeds.

Although it shouldjbe understood that my ii'nproved process may? be used for producing any desired design or designs, I have deemed it ad' visable, to illustrate a typical design on the accompanying drawing, with the object of facilitating a clear'understanding of the results obtained by the use of said process.

Figure 1 is a plan view showing a typical design executed in accordance with my process.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional View on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In carrying my invention into effect and considering first the structural details thereof, I provide a preferably rigid backing l which is formed of laminated wood of a suitable number of plies, or of any other desired material. There is secured to the upper face of the backing l a piece, or section, of linoleum 2 which is firmly retained in position on said backing by means of glue, cement, or any other suitable adhesive substance. The linoleum employed is generally known to the trade as battleship linoleum. Attention is di rected to the fact that linoleum has been selected for the reason that it is relatively soft in texture and lends itself readily for use in my improved process. It is easy to engrave and lasts indefinitely. Furthermore, it does not crack or warp, or tend to bend and is not affected by climatic changes or conditions. If desired, of course, harder or softer materials may be employed.

The first step in my improved process is to coat the exposed surface of the section of linoleum togravure, and which process will lend itself well (CI. 41-24) v with White paint or artists white. A pencil sketch of the desired design is then made upon the coated exposed surface of the linoleum and, in order to protect the pencil sketch from being obliterated during further steps to be described hereinabove, I take the step of applying to the sketched surface of the linoleum a thin coat of i preferably clear varnish.

After the varnish has dried the plate is com pletely engraved, it being understood that the en-' graver handling the Work will satisfy himself as to the character of lining he wishes to use in the engraving operation. Ordinary wood engravers tools of various thicknesses for various lines, are employed. The engraver is not required to direct his attention to the problem of light andshade, as this problem is taken care of nearer the completion of the process. As shownat 3 in Figure 1, the engraver may leave a few solid or unlined portions, this depending upon the nature of the engraving to be executed. i

After the engraving step has been completed and all the lines have been cut into the exposed face of the linoleum, magnesia powder is dusted or brushed into the lines. Some of the magnesia powder will remain in the lines, due to the fact that there is an oily substance in the linoleum to which this magnesia powder adheres in a slight degree. The residue is then thoroughly brushed out so that a gray tone is given the whole plate. After this is done, whiting is brushed into the lines and the entire plate is touched in desired spaces with black ink. When the ink dries, a complete plate, as for example, the one shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, is had for whatever purpose it is desired to use it. The whiting used preferably consists of water color ,white and Foster white while the ink preferably employed is commonly known as black drawing ink.

Although, in describing the foregoing process, I have stated that the plate will be done in black and white, it should be understood that various colors can be stroked over the lines. It has been found by doing this that very artistic effects are produced, which effects can be obtained in no other manner. It will be seen that the process lends itself well to the production of murals and other color work. Inthe color work mentioned, oil, water colors, and bronze colors are used, as well as other suitable coloring pigments.

Attention is directed to the fact that, when it is desired to use white or light tinted linoleum, it will not be necessary to employ a dusting powder. In lieu of the dusting powder, the plate is inked over with a conventional printers roller, using a quick drying ink of any suitable color, for bringing out or rendering distinct the engraved lines.

It is desired to point out that a particularly meritorious feature of this process of making a plate or picture is that the paint may be washed off as many times as desired until the correct effect is produced, without destruction or injury to the lines in the engraving. Another particularly meritorious feature of my improved process is that anyone with a knowledge of art, but lacking in brush technique, has a good chance of making a fine job in producing plates or pictures for the reason that the lines of the engraving will be immeasurably helpful in controlling and laying the colors.

A further meritorious feature of my improved process is the third dimension effect. Although not clearly shown in the sample illustrated in Figure 1, it has been found to be slightly evident in an oil painting on linoleum where the engraving method has been employed.

It is believed that, from a reading of the foregoing, it will be understood that I have provided a highly efiicient process for producing decorative plates.

-Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. In a method for producing decorative plates, the step of engraving a design on the exposed surface of a section of relatively soft material, and brushing coloring material into the lines of the engraved design for lending a color to the design. v

2. In a method for producing decorative plates, the step of securing a section of relatively soft material to a relatively hard stiff backing, sketching a design on said relatively soft material, engraving the design in the soft material, and applying powdered coloring matter to the engraved design for lending a tint thereto.

3. In a method for producing decorative plates, the step of engraving a design on the exposed surface of a section oflinoleum, and brushing magnesia powder into the lines of the engraved design for lending a gray color to the design.

4. In a method for producing decorative plates, the step of sketching a design on the exposed surface of a section of linoleum, applying a coating of varnish to the exposed surface, engraving the design in said exposed surface of the linoleum, and brushing powdered coloring matter into the lines of the engraved design for lending a gray color to the design.

5. In a method for producing decorative plates, the step of securing a section of linoleum to a backing of wood, painting the exposed surface of the linoleum, sketching a design on said painted surface, applying a coat of varnish to said surface, engraving the surface of the linoleum, and applying powdered coloring matter to the lines of the engraved design for lending color to the design and completing the production of a decorative plate.

6. A method of the class described including the step of securing a section of linoleum to a section of laminated wood, painting the exposed surface of the linoleum, sketching a design on the painted surface of the linoleum, applying a coat of varnish to the exposed surface of the linoleum and the design, engraving the design into the exposed surface of the linoleum, applying magnesia powder to the engraved surface, and removing the residue of the magnesia powder from the lines of the design, said magnesia powder lending a gray color to the design and completing the production of the decorative plate.

7. A method of the class described including the step of securing a section of linoleum to a relatively stiff backing, painting the exposed surface of the section of linoleum, sketching a design on said painted surface, applying a coat of varnish to the painted surface and the design, engraving the design in the exposed surface of the linoleum, applying powdered coloring matter to the engraved surface, removing the residue of the powdered coloring matter from the surface, said coloring matter imparting a tint to the design, applying whiting to the engraving, and tinting the engraving and whiting with ink.

. JOHN G. BJORKMAN. 

